Information processing device and method

Abstract

An information processing device, such as a camera, capable of magnetically recording information on film, controls magnetic recording and film feeding using a single position detector that detects film position information, such as perforations in the film. After a frame of the film has been photographically exposed, the information processing device first feeds the film in a reverse direction opposite to the direction of advancement, before accelerating the film forward in the advancement direction to a stable advancement velocity. The usable length of the magnetic recording area of the film is thus increased because recording does not take place while film velocity is changing.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An information processing device for recording images on a film having frames comprising: feeding means for feeding the film in a feed path;   film position detection means for detecting position information relating to a position of the film in the feed path;   recording means for magnetically recording information on the film; and   control means for controlling the feeding means and the recording means based on the detected position information from the film position detection means, wherein the control means comprises a) feed control means for controlling feeding of the film by the feeding means based upon the position information detected by the film position detection means, and   b) recording control means for controlling magnetic recording by the recording means,     so that after an image is recorded on a frame of the film, the film is fed so that the next movement of the film is in a first direction, and is then fed continuously in a second direction opposite to the first direction to feed a next, unexposed frame of film into a recording position for recording an image, wherein a) information is magnetically recorded on the film while the film is fed continuously in the second direction, b) the next, unexposed frame of film is moved in the second direction into the recording position, and c) the continuous movement of the film in the second direction is consecutive with the movement of the film in the first direction.   
     
     
       2. The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the control means further comprises a determining means for determining a frequency at which magnetic recording will occur, a timing for magnetic recording, and a timing for feeding the film, based upon the position information detected by the film position detection means. 
     
     
       3. The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the film position detection means detects a perforation in the film. 
     
     
       4. The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the information processing device is a camera. 
     
     
       5. The information processing device according to claim 4, wherein the camera is a normal wind type of camera wherein the film is advanced from a film cartridge upon recording of an image. 
     
     
       6. The information processing device according to claim 4, wherein the camera is a pre-wind type of camera wherein the film is unwound prior to recording images and then rewound into a film cartridge upon recording of an image. 
     
     
       7. The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the film position detection means is one photo-interrupter disposed in the feed path. 
     
     
       8. The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the film position detection means detects a first point in a first film frame for image recording, detects a second point in an adjacent film frame to start film feeding to advance to a second frame for image recording, and detects a third point located at the first point in the first film frame to start magnetic recording in the first film frame. 
     
     
       9. The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the control means controls the recording means to magnetically record information on the film only when the feeding means is feeding the film at a constant velocity. 
     
     
       10. An information processing device comprising: a film feed that feeds a film in a feed path;   a film position detector located in the feed path that detects position information relating to a position of the film;   a magnetic information recorder located in the feed path that magnetically records information on the film; and   a controller coupled to the film feed, the film position detector, and the magnetic information recorder, wherein the controller controls the film feed to feed the film based upon the position information detected by the film position detector, and controls the magnetic information recorder to magnetically record on the film in a magnetic information recording area, wherein each time an image is recorded on a frame of the film at a recording position the film feed feeds the film from the recording position in a first direction, and then continuously feeds the film in a second direction opposite to the first direction during which the magnetic information recorder magnetically records information on the film, so that the continuous feeding of the film in the second direction is consecutive with the feeding of the film from the recording position in the first direction.   
     
     
       11. The information processing device according to claim 10, wherein the controller determines a frequency for magnetic recording, a timing for magnetic recording, and a timing for feeding the film, based upon the position information provided by the film position detector. 
     
     
       12. The information processing device according to claim 10, wherein the controller determines a frequency for magnetic recording, a timing for magnetic recording, and a timing for feeding the film, based upon the position information provided by the film position detector while the film feed feeds the film in the second direction. 
     
     
       13. The information processing device according to claim 10, wherein the film position detector detects an edge of a perforation in the film. 
     
     
       14. The information processing device according to claim 10, wherein the film position detector is one photo interrupter. 
     
     
       15. The information processing device according to claim 10, wherein the information processing device is a camera. 
     
     
       16. The information processing device according to claim 15, wherein the camera is a normal wind type. 
     
     
       17. The information processing device according to claim 15, wherein the camera is a pre-wind type. 
     
     
       18. An information processing method for recording information on a film, comprising the steps of: recording an image on a current frame of film while the current frame is in a recording position;   with the current frame beginning in the exposure position, feeding the film in a first direction after recording the image on the current frame of film;   feeding the film continuously in a second direction opposite to the first direction until a next, unexposed frame of film is in the recording position; and   recording information magnetically on the film while feeding the film in the second direction, wherein the feeding of the film continuously in the second direction is consecutive with the feeding of the film in the first direction.   
     
     
       19. The information processing method according to claim 18, wherein the step of feeding the film in the second direction comprises: accelerating the film in the second direction to a constant velocity;   maintaining the constant velocity for a period of time; and   decelerating the film to zero velocity so that a next frame of film is positioned in the recording position.   
     
     
       20. The information processing method according to claim 19, wherein the step of recording information magnetically on the film while feeding the film in the second direction further comprises: measuring the magnitude of the constant velocity after the film is accelerated to the constant velocity;   determining at least one of a magnetic recording frequency, a magnetic recording timing, and a film feed timing based upon the measured magnitude of the constant velocity;   magnetically recording information on the film during the period of time that the constant velocity is maintained based on the determined at least one of the magnetic recording frequency, the magnetic recording timing, and the film feed timing; and   ceasing to magnetically record information on the film before deceleration of the film to zero velocity commences.   
     
     
       21. The information processing method according to claim 20, wherein the step of measuring the magnitude of the constant velocity employs a film position detector, first and second film position indicators in the film separated by a known distance, a timer, and a controller, and comprises: starting the timer when the first film position indicator passes the film position detector;   stopping the timer when the second film position indicator passes the film position detector to obtain an elapsed time between detection of the first and second film position indicators; and   using the controller to determine the constant velocity of the film based on the elapsed time and the known distance between the first and second film position indicators.   
     
     
       22. The information processing method according to claim 21, wherein the film position detector detects the first film position indicator as a first edge of a perforation in the film and the second film position indicator as a second edge of the perforation in the film. 
     
     
       23. An information processing method for recording information on a film, wherein the film has a plurality of frames, each one of the plurality of frames containing a first perforation and a second perforation, the direction from the first perforation to the second perforation being a specified direction, each of the first and second perforations containing a first edge and a second edge, the direction from the first edge to the second edge being the same as the specified direction, the distance between the first and second edges of each perforation being a known distance, and the method comprising the sequential steps of: providing a timer, a controller, a film position detector, a film feed, and film disposed in the film feed, wherein a current frame of film is in a specified position for recording an image on the current frame of film;   beginning with the current frame in the specified position, feeding the film in the specified direction;   stopping the film when the film position detector detects the first edge of the second perforation of a previous frame;   accelerating the film to a constant velocity in a direction opposite to the specified direction;   starting the timer when the film position detector detects the first edge of the first perforation of the current frame;   stopping the timer when the film position detector detects the second edge of the first perforation of the current frame, thereby obtaining an elapsed time between detection of the first and second edges of the first perforation of the current frame;   using the controller to calculate a magnetic recording frequency based on the elapsed time and the known distance between the first and second edges of the first perforation of the current frame;   commencing magnetic recording of information on the film using the calculated magnetic recording frequency;   ceasing to magnetically record information on the film when the film position detector detects the first edge of the second perforation of the current frame;   commencing to decelerate the film using the film feed; and   stopping the film using the film feed when the film position detector detects the second edge of the first perforation of a next frame so that the next frame is at rest in the specified position for recording an image, wherein;   the film remains at the constant velocity in the direction opposite to the specified direction between the step of accelerating the film to a constant velocity in a direction opposite to the specified direction and the step of commencing to decelerate the film using the film feed.   
     
     
       24. An information processing method for recording information on a film, wherein the film has a plurality of frames, the method comprising the sequential steps of: providing a film feed, and film disposed in the film feed, wherein a current, exposed frame of film is in a specified position for recording an image on the current frame of film;   beginning with the current frame in the specified position, feeding the film in a specified direction for a predetermined distance;   stopping the film;   accelerating the film to a constant velocity in a direction opposite to the specified direction so that the film is at the constant velocity before the current frame passes through the specified position and remains at the constant velocity until after the current frame has passed through the specified position, wherein magnetic recording of information on the film commences after the film has attained the constant velocity;   ceasing to magnetically record information on the film;   commencing to decelerate the film using the film feed; and   stopping the film using the film feed so that the film comes to rest with a next, unexposed frame of film in the specified position for recording an image.